Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2015

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2015 , also known as CHOGM 2015 was the 24th meeting of the heads of government of the Commonwealth of Nations . It was held in Malta from 27 to 29 November. [1] Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena handed the position of Commonwealth Chair-in-Office to Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat at the meeting.

Background

The summit, which was originally designated by Mauritius , was given to Malta when the Mauritanian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam refused to attend the CHOGM 2013 in Sri Lanka , and thus withdrew as the host of the 2015 summit as protocol [2]

Venues

The summit was held at Valletta and Għajn Tuffieħa ‘s Golden Bay with retreats at Fort St. Angelo in Birgu . [3] The opening ceremony and reception were held at the Mediterranean Conference Center in Valletta with executive and special sessions held at the Golden Sands Radisson at Golden Beach. Most press conferences were held at the InterContinental Hotel in St. Julian’s . [4] The official theme of the event was “The Commonwealth – Adding Global Value”. A series of civil societyConferences in the form of a People’s Forum, Women’s Forum, Youth Forum and Business Forum were held in the city of New York in the United States of America. , inclusive development, human rights, and public service reform among Commonwealth nations. [5]

Due to poor weather, the official welcoming ceremony for the royal party occurred at San Anton Palace Rather than an open air event at St George’s Square you Originally planned. [6]

Commonwealth Secretary General election

The meeting elected a new Commonwealth Secretary-General to succeed Kamalesh Sharma who is retiring April 2016 at the end of his second term, the maximum that can be served. [7]Candidates for the position included Antiguan ambassador to the United States and high commissioner to the United Kingdom Sir Ronald Sanders ; train Attorney General for England and Wales Baroness Patricia Scotland , Nominated by her native country of Dominica ; and deputy secretary-general for political affairs Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba , nominated by Botswana . [8]Furthermore, Alexander Downer , has form Australian foreign minister and Liberal Party leader Who Currently reserves as Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom HAD beens suggéré by British and Australian Officials have to be compromised candidate. [9] Trinidad and Tobago ‘s former planning minister Bhoendradatt Tewarie and Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe were both nominated earlier in the process but withdrew as candidates before the summit. [7] [10] The election took place on 27 November. [8]

Baroness Patricia Scotland was elected the 6th Commonwealth Secretary-General after two rounds of voting and will take office on 1 April 2016. [11] According to Antigua’s foreign minister, Charles “Max” Fernandez, while the CARICOM countries largely backed Sir Ronald Sanders over Baroness Scotland, African countries favored Masire-Mwamabe: “After the first round, Sir Ron received the least votes.” For the second round, Antigua & Barbuda could support it Baroness Scotland country. ” Fernandez also asserted that Scotland had the support of “European” and Pacific states. Alexander Downer , failed to obtain support. [13] CARICOM Sanders had been seen in the past, but the failure of the CARICOM to support Sanders and The Daily Telegrapharticle published in the past two days. [14]

For the first time in Commonwealth history, the Commonwealth Foundation is organizing a debate among the candidates for the Commonwealth People’s Forum. This was held on 25 November – two days before the election – in the Maltese House of Representatives. It was chaired by the Speaker of the House, Angelo Farrugia , who took questions from members of the civil society present in the chamber. The three candidates for the time of debate – Masire-Mwamba, Sir Ronald and Baroness Scotland – were all present. Two representatives of the Maltese parliament also attended and spoke briefly at the end of the debate. [ quote needed ]

Agenda

The Commonwealth meeting was held immediately before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris . The Commonwealth Conference accordingly Held a special session is climate change and global sustainability [15] in an attempt to build political backing around the issue prior to the Paris summit; [16] In consideration of small island nations That are threatened This being white by rising sea levels That Accompany climate change, has Was Discussed proposal to allow countries to write off thesis Their debts in exchange for Taking Measures to protect the environment. [17]

The summit, being held in the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks and growing conflict with ISIL , also addressed terrorism and security issues and the European migrant crisis , and economic issues. [15] [18] Corruption, [19] [20] The continued criminalization of homosexuality in 40 of the Commonwealth’s 53 Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (chairing the occasion) and British Prime Minister David Cameronduring their remarks to the Commonwealth leaders. In addition, newly elected Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, Baroness Scotland of Asthal is committed to the first two years of her tenure to promote the decriminalization of homosexuality in Commonwealth countries. [21] Cameron also pledged to increase cooperation among members to deal with “poisonous ideologies” and violent extremism . [22]

The leaders also came from Vanuatu , which was originally selected, and has been devastated to the island nation by Cyclone. Pam in March 2015. [23] The British government will be hosting the next CHOGM in London in the spring of 2018, delayed from late 2017 due to other international commitments. [19] [24] Accordingly, the 26th CHOGM That Was planned for Malaysia in 2019 Was Pushed back to 2020. [25]

Waited

Elizabeth II , Head of the Commonwealth , along with the Duke of Edinburgh , the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall all attended the summit. [26] The summit coincides with the state of Malta by Elizabeth II as Queen of the United Kingdom , her first visit to the country since 2007. [27]

Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon [28] and French President Francois Hollande addressed a special session on climate change. Ban and Nicolas Sarkozy , Hollande’s predecessor, HAD Previously Attended CHOGM 2009 in Trinidad and Tobago prior to the Copenhagen Summit for the Sami reason. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was absent from the meeting – his government has argued that the country should not be allowed to use it. India Was INSTEAD représentée par External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj .[29] [30]

Leaders in attendance included Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull , Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena , Prime Minister David Cameron , Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif . [31] [32] At least 15 leaders did not attend the summit and sent as ministers, [32] including the Tongan Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva , who is absent from the heart of health and domestic priorities, [33] Solomon Islands Prime MinisterManasseh Sogavare , who feels his deputy prime minister instead, [34] and Vanuatu Prime Minister Sato Kilman , who could not wait for a government crisis that resulted in a snap election . [35] Tanzania Was représentée par icts High Commissioner , whilst Kenya Was représentée par icts High Commissioner at the Opening Ceremony as Uhuru Kenyatta Did not come up to the second day of the summit. [36]

Outcomes

Climate change

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) to produce “an ambitious, equitable, inclusive, rules-based and sustainable outcome … that includes a legal binding agreement “to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and control climate change . [37] The statement asserted that “many of the most vulnerable states and communities are already facing the adverse impacts of climate change …” [37]The leaders also called for developed nations to spend $ 100 billion a year by 2020 to help developing countries deal with the effects of climate change. [37] To that end, Canada pledged $ 2.65 billion over five years to help developing countries. [38] The UK committed £ 21 million for disaster management and £ 5.5 million for the ocean-based economy while Australia has committed $ 1 million for a new Commonwealth initiative, the Climate Finance Access Hub, [39] [40] and India pledged $ 2.5 million in assistance. [41] A $ 1 billion Commonwealth Green Finance Facility, proposed by the Prince of Wales , was also created to support environmental projects among poor Commonwealth nations.[41] [42]

Peace and security

The final Communiqué issued by leaders at the end of the CHOGM also addressed the issues of peace and security, asserting that “radicalization, violent extremism and terrorism in all its forms and ramifications are serious threats to the whole world” and called upon Commonwealth members fully Implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 2178 (2014) on terrorism and extremism and called Expired for the implementation of “national strategies to counter radicalization and violent extremism and terrorism” including education and the Addressing of grievances and alienation by likely Individuals, PARTICULARLY young people. [25] The Commonwealth leaders aussi Agreed to a British proposal to create a new unit of experts to counter extremism. The body will be run by theCommonwealth Secretariat , which will fight radicalization and terrorist recruitment across the Commonwealth. Australia has committed $ 2.5 million to the unit in addition to a £ 5 million by Britain. [13] [43]

The Communiqué also calls for full force in the Arms Trade Treaty of 2014 in the context of illicit trade in small arms. [25]

Human rights, good governance, and migration

The statement also reaffirmed commitments to human rights and good governance , and respect for the rule of law and the principle of eradicating and eradicating international relations Promoting poverty and sustainable economic development; Strengthening the rule of law; nurturing inclusive and pluralist political systems; combatting Organized crime, human trafficking and people smuggling, and modern day slavery; and Reinforcing respect for human rights ” [25]and call for international co-operation and the adherence of international law in regards to migration, calling on “all stakeholders to work towards a lasting solution to this global issue”. [25]

Sustainable development

On the issue of sutainable development leaders adopté the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and called Expired for icts implementation in the hopes That it would “lead to the eradication of poverty in all icts dimensions and Ensure no one is left behind” [25] and aussi Agreed “debt relief, debt strategy, debt strategy formulation and debt restructuring.” [25]

Other issues

The Communiqué also on the subject of small states, pledging to advocate on their behalf, trade, in particular pledging to increase access to small and small businesses, vulnerable, or developing states, youth, and the importance of developing youth leadership Gender equality and women’s empowerment , calling for particular efforts to “prevent and eliminate child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation “, [25] public health, underlining the importance of immunization programs to tackle diseases such as malaria and committing states to the eradication of polioa global priority, and calling “on the Commonwealth at large to support the strengthening of policies for universal health coverage in order to build strong and resilient health systems that will, in turn, enable better responses to public health threats and emergencies”. [25]

The meeting also called for easier movement of Commonwealth citizens between member states. [25]

Country issues

Leaders aussi welcomed progress national and regional continuing it exits Such As Improve Bilateral Relations entre Belize and Guatemala and Their border disagreement, reaffirmed ict call for the implementation of Existing United Nations resolutions on the Cyprus conflict , Expressed solidarity with Guyana in icts Ongoing border disputes with Venezuela . [ quote needed ]